Garden Education Intern at 24th Street Elementary School

Munachiso O., Spring 2024

Hi! My name is Muna and I am an Environmental Studies major with a minor in Occupational Science. I spent my semester working with the Garden School Foundation as a Garden Education Intern at 24th Street Elementary School. GSF provides in-depth garden-based education to students at Title I elementary schools in Los Angeles. They also run programs like ‘Cafeteria to Compost,’ – where they take food waste from the school cafeteria and use it to make compost right in the school garden – community garden days, and a weekly farmers market.

A volunteer plant growing in our A+ compost!

At 24th Street, I support different projects and tasks that feed my soul and spark my interest, like working in the garden, filling garden beds, weeding, starting seeds, and planting various vegetables. Sometimes I help with the ‘Cafeteria to Compost’ program. It has been so precious to see elementary students take great care in sorting their food, putting things in the right bins, and donating whatever food they do not want. My favorite part of the internship is helping the garden educator during classes. I love talking to the students, learning their names, and seeing their passion and love for the garden and the classes. Before this internship, I did not know that a job like this existed, and I am grateful to this program for exposing me to this career path. I plan to return to GSF in the Fall 2024 semester to complete the rest of my concentration units! 

Hanging out in a tree in the garden.